"That’s our digital equivalent of a church building. Once they are online they can connect with God and with community." — The Rev. Michael P. Smith, senior pastor, Clinton (N.J.) United Methodist Church.
N.J. church adds a 'digital equivalent'
CLINTON, N.J. — It has taken time, work and a lot of refinement with a six-month rollout and launch plan, but it’s finally official — Clinton United Methodist Church will offer another way for the community to worship with the debut of its “online church” on Sept. 10. Denise Herschel reports for the Greater New Jersey Conference.
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Reading project debuts in Enid, Oklahoma
ENID, Okla. — “If you teach a child to read, you open the world," said the Rev. Randy Mitchell, senior pastor of Enid-First United Methodist Church. Project Transformation is helping Enid youngsters to improve their reading skills this summer. Robert Barron reports for the Oklahoma Conference.
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Young people offer hope in Tonga
NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga — One of the strongest signs of hope in Tonga is the commitment of young people in its churches, the Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit said in an sermon delivered Aug. 6 at the Centenary Chapel of the Free Wesleyan (Methodist) Church of Tonga. Tveit, the top executive of the World Council of Churches, is on an ecumenical tour of the Pacific region through Aug. 13.
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Heading toward new mission destinations
ATLANTA — A “liturgy of placement,” marking both place of origin and mission destination, was a highlight of the commissioning service for a new batch of young adult missionaries at the headquarters of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries. Ivy Couch reports for the mission agency.
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Pastor: Immigration act contrary to Christian values
WASHINGTON (RNS) — The Reforming American Immigration for Strong Employment Act seeks to separate families and commodify the worth of individuals in a “merit-based” system, says the Rev. John L. McCullough, United Methodist pastor and executive director of Church World Service, in a commentary for Religion News Service. But Christian faith, he writes, calls us to love.
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Wesley Seminary examines Luther
WASHINGTON (UMNS) — United Methodist Wesley Theological Seminary will offer “Luther and the Reformation at 500 Years,” a special course taught by a cohort of Wesley professors on Wednesday evenings beginning Aug. 30. This course is open to current Wesley students and anyone curious to encounter the Reformation’s central figure — Martin Luther.
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Looking ahead
Here are some of the activities ahead for United Methodists across the connection. If you have a United Methodist event to share, you can add it to the calendar with this submission form.
Wednesday, Aug. 9
Summer preaching seminar: Getting to Grace — Aug. 9-11 at United Theological Seminary featuring Paul Scott Wilson on “Getting to Grace: The Joy of Preaching.” Details
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